Your New Energy Bill

[Eddiebfc]

The answer is very close to home "Trough of Bowland" to be precise. Sits on a lot of gas that can be extracted by fracking. It could produce enough to go a long way to making this country energy self-sufficient. What's not to like? I couldn't get my head around why the govt allowed pressure groups to put a spanner in the works to stop it going ahead. We're all paying the very high price for that decision now and where are we relying on to supply our gas?

This is a misunderstanding of how it works. The price is determined globally so even if fracking was widespread in the UK it would not impact on the price that consumers pay. Obviously we would not be reliant on a tyrants and despots for our energy but it would be the fracking company who would benefit from the sky high global price.

[Stayingup]

This is a misunderstanding of how it works. The price is determined globally so even if fracking was widespread in the UK it would not impact on the price that consumers pay. Obviously we would not be reliant on a tyrants and despots for our energy but it would be the fracking company who would benefit from the sky high global price.

Yes but the country would. There are no taxes or jobs gained from imported gas. Plus the tankers spew out CO2.

[G0foste]

Decided to take the plunge and get Solar panels with battery storage. Ran the numbers and well worth the investment.

[Lancasterclaret]

If you are going to wreck the Trough with energy production, then at least wreck it with sustainable, never running out energy sources

[Stayingup]

If you are going to wreck the Trough with energy production, then at least wreck it with sustainable, never running out energy sources

Never running out but often unavailae. Like the sun in Lancashire - unfortunately!!!

[G0foste]

You can charge the batteries up a 7.5p a kw at night, then use the power from the batteries for electricity in the day. Cutting your electric bill by 75% and that is before the additional saving you can make by generating electricity from the panels.

[Inchy]

Just got in from work and low and behold the shell energy website is not loading so I am unable to submit a meter reading

[Paul Waine]

Just got in from work and low and behold the shell energy website is not loading so I am unable to submit a meter reading

Ofgem's advice is to take a time/date photo of your meter readings. The energy suppliers (lots of them have been swamped) have been told by Ofgem to sort it. You may be able to submit tomorrow or over the w/end and have it recorded as today's readings.

[Jakubclaret]

Does that advice cover prepayment meters?

[Paul Waine]

Does that advice cover prepayment meters?

Martin Lewis has had something to say about pre-payment meters, but has since checked with Ofgem and it appears his advice was not correct.

Martin Lewis issues apology over prepayment U-turn from energy companies and Ofgem

(Plymouth Herald website earlier today. First one up on google).

Martin Lewis issued an apology after his advice on non-smart prepayment meters became "less certain".

He had previously advised people with prepayment meters that if they topped up before the April 1 price cap rise, they will be charged at the rate they topped up, until they top up again.

However, he has since revealed this may not be the case.

On March 24, he explained on his Money Saving Expert website that after receiving confirmation from "all major firms" expect Scottish Power that the tip would work, he contacted Ofgem to see if Scottish Power were breaking any rules.

Unfortunately, Ofgem reported that there is "nothing in the licence conditions" that prevents firms from ensuring people pay the rates from April 1, no matter when they top up.

For Scottish Power, customers will not be able to use his previous "top up tip".

Martin Lewis did admit that the tip is "likely to work" with British Gas, Octopus, Shell Energy and Bulb. Other than British Gas, who confirmed through a tweet that they would allow people to use the pre-top up tip, the other companies have not promised it.

The Money Saving Expert also reminded people this will only work with prepayment electricity meters, and definitely not with gas. This is due to what Martin Lewis calls a "technical gremlin".

[Burt]

I was with Green before they went bust and was paying £115 combined

Was moved over to Shell and it increased to £215

Their website crashed yesterday and is still inaccessible so no info available on the new rates and no comms from Shell!

[TheFamilyCat]

I went on a 3-year fixed deal with EDF in August. £110 a month for dual fuel. I only went for it because of the cashback offer - seems I got lucky.

[Lowbankclaret]

You can charge the batteries up a 7.5p a kw at night, then use the power from the batteries for electricity in the day. Cutting your electric bill by 75% and that is before the additional saving you can make by generating electricity from the panels.

Solatsystems have more than halved in cost for installation and now the price of electric has doubled. The numbers should add up for most houses.

[Spijed]

Paul Lewis
@paullewismoney

"From today people on prepayment meters who run out of money and disconnect themselves from electricity or gas will find their electric meter will still be ticking up at £3.53 a week standing charge and the gas meter at £2.62 – £6.15 a week to be without heat, light, or cooking."

https://twitter.com/paullewismoney/stat ... 3913154564

[Greekclaret]

My energy bills were working on average £100 a month. I swear I’ve already had a price increase as for the past 6 months it’s been coming out at around £170 before this pay increase. Anyone else experienced anything similar? I definitely haven’t been using that much more energy, if anything I’ve been using less as being working away a lot more recently.

[CaptJohn]

This is a misunderstanding of how it works. The price is determined globally so even if fracking was widespread in the UK it would not impact on the price that consumers pay. Obviously we would not be reliant on a tyrants and despots for our energy but it would be the fracking company who would benefit from the sky high global price.

Eddie I see where you're coming from but I think you're missing the fact that the price of anything produced locally, can be manipulated by the government. If we were self sufficient in gas the government would be in a position to help people far more than they are now. Do you think that citizens in Saudi, UAE, Qatar or even the USA are paying sky high prices for their energy? When fracking starts again and the inevitable environmentalists start to protest en-masse, people should think about their energy bills when deciding whether to support them.

[Inchy]

What I don’t understand is why we are building new houses and other buildings without thinking about how to power them.

Every new build should have solar panels. Every new build estate should have a wind turbine.

[Eddiebfc]

Eddie I see where you're coming from but I think you're missing the fact that the price of anything produced locally, can be manipulated by the government. If we were self sufficient in gas the government would be in a position to help people far more than they are now. Do you think that citizens in Saudi, UAE, Qatar or even the USA are paying sky high prices for their energy? When fracking starts again and the inevitable environmentalists start to protest en-masse, people should think about their energy bills when deciding whether to support them.

John although that is possible it will not happen in the UK. In the USA where fracking is done in remote regions without a gas transportation network, the significant transportation costs lead to producers selling it below the global price to locals. That is not the case in the UK so there would be no reason to sell below the market price. There is an argument for fracking to reduce our reliance on other country's for our energy but not for the price. If fracking was widespread in the UK the companies involved would just be reaping the windfall like other producers are doing at present.

[Lancasterclaret]

Still struggling with the idea that wrecking the natural environment on our doorstep is somehow just acceptable

[Zero]

My energy bills were working on average £100 a month. I swear I’ve already had a price increase as for the past 6 months it’s been coming out at around £170 before this pay increase. Anyone else experienced anything similar? I definitely haven’t been using that much more energy, if anything I’ve been using less as being working away a lot more recently.

Ours has doubled. Take gas for example . Our unit rate was 2.56p. Avro went bust. We ended up on the max standard cap of 4p per kw/h. The headline that energy has gone up 54% ( to 7p +) is for those already at the cap. The majority (exluding pre payment) that were on fixed rates or other deals will see more of a 100% + rise.

Ours has gone from £122 a month to £265 (Octopus quoted). In October they said expect £422 per month. The headine is a 54% rise in April then another 50% in October. Going off my quotes it is more like 350% + in 12 months. I suspect a lot of people are in a similar position.

I've increased my DD by 50% (to £180), ignoring the £265, to see how we get on - and over egged the meter reading from end March to buy at the lower rates.

Looking grim.

[GeorgeBoydsHeadBand]

At least the MPs will be alright, having just had a pay rise of over £2200. That should offset the standard of living increases for them. Who says that crime doesn’t pay.

[Rileybobs]

What I don’t understand is why we are building new houses and other buildings without thinking about how to power them.

Every new build should have solar panels. Every new build estate should have a wind turbine.

This isn’t the way forward. But gas boilers are being phased out for new build housing, replaced by ground or air source heating systems as we move towards zero carbon housing.

[Lowbankclaret]

This isn’t the way forward. But gas boilers are being phased out for new build housing, replaced by ground or air source heating systems as we move towards zero carbon housing.

Air source heating costs more than gas in electric and in winter will not heat your enough to make it warm. Not sure why you think solar is not the way to go. Do you perhaps work for an electric sales company?

[Lowbankclaret]

So my normal daily cost was £5 pre price rise.

Smart meter now today.

71EB342B-D40A-4F50-B731-91FDF5178A59.jpeg (903.57 KiB) Viewed 1467 times

[Rileybobs]

No I don’t. I don’t think that putting solar panels or wind turbines on all new build houses is a very practical or efficient solution. Improvements to the thermal efficiency of building envelopes I would suggest is the way to go by making houses more air-tight and better insulated with a more environmentally friendly heating source.

[Rileybobs]

So my normal daily cost was £5 pre price rise.

Smart meter now today.

71EB342B-D40A-4F50-B731-91FDF5178A59.jpeg

Turn your smart energy monitor off, you’ll save a fortune.

[Lowbankclaret]

No I don’t. I don’t think that putting solar panels or wind turbines on all new build houses is a very practical or efficient solution. Improvements to the thermal efficiency of building envelopes I would suggest is the way to go by making houses more air-tight and better insulated with a more environmentally friendly heating source.

So my good friend has a wing turbine, provides all his electric and he gets a cheque for around 800 to £1000 a year.

So explain how that’s not an effective solution?

[Rileybobs]

So my good friend has a wing turbine, provides all his electric and he gets a cheque for around 800 to £1000 a year.

So explain how that’s not an effective solution?

Sounds like an effective solution for your friend. But how would that work on all new build houses? Who will pay for the up front cost of the wind turbine? Who would pay to maintain them?

[Lowbankclaret]

Sounds like an effective solution for your friend. But how would that work on all new build houses? Who will pay for the up front cost of the wind turbine? Who would pay to maintain them?

So back in the day.
They didn’t have double glazing.
They didn’t have gas central heating.

If your not fitting gas central heating and doing solar instead, what’s the change to installation costs. Not much I would suggest.

Also wond turbines need a once a year check, just like your gas boiler, just they a lot simpler. Much less parts to go wrong.

[Lowbankclaret]

Sounds like an effective solution for your friend. But how would that work on all new build houses? Who will pay for the up front cost of the wind turbine? Who would pay to maintain them?

Also check out Whalleyhydro, group of people paid to install hydro on the Calder. We have so many rivers in the northwest, we should do way more of this.

[Loyal Supporter]

So back in the day.
They didn’t have double glazing.
They didn’t have gas central heating.

If your not fitting gas central heating and doing solar instead, what’s the change to installation costs. Not much I would suggest.

Also wond turbines need a once a year check, just like your gas boiler, just they a lot simpler. Much less parts to go wrong.

10k installation cost and if the wind doesn't blow you are back on the national grid. If the costs weren't so high it could be a option though.

[Lowbankclaret]

10k installation cost and if the wind doesn't blow you are back on the national grid. If the costs weren't so high it could be a option though.

It cost £16k with the grants to install my friends wind turbine.
When we did the calculations it came out as a ten year pay back.
It actually paid back in less than 8. Due to increases in electricity costs and higher than predicted rebates for energy put into the grid. Now he has free electric and £1000 profit each year.
Your point about being on the grid when the wind it not blowing is valid, however he puts so much in the grid it pays for what he uses and he gets a rebate each year of around £800 to a little over £1000. That even at abysmal rates they pay you for putting electricity into the grid.
When you understand how it stacked against you on prices it shows how much he puts into the grid.

Now this is an example and not actually accurate based on what he has told me in the past.
When he draws from the grid he is charged slightly more than we do. For the example let’s say 25 pence per unit.
When he has excess electric that goes into the grid he gets 4 pence per unit.

For those companies need to be made by law to pay 50% of what they charge, they get free electric at no cost to them that they then sell for say 20 pence per unit. Hugh profit for doing nothing.
It that was implemented it would mean the economics for others would be much sooner pay back on investment. But even with the new increased electric costs payback would easily be under 5 years now.

The turbine is a proven 6kw. I believe the company is now under another name.